Hip-hop greats, special guests and alt icons: The story of The Meadows 2017 in photos

The Queens festival returned for a second year with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and alternative music

The Meadows returned to Queens last weekend (September 15-17) for its second ever edition, taking over the parking lot of Citi Field, the stadium where baseball underdogs the New York Mets play their home games. Organised by the team behind one of NYC’s other premier festivals Governors Ball, the line-up saw some of the biggest names in hip-hop and alternative music descend on the event’s own concrete jungle, including Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Nas, Erykah Badu and a ton of special guests. Relive the weekend or find out what you missed below.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image1of18

Sky Ferreira

At only her second performance of the year - and her first festival in two years - Sky Ferreira struggled through stage fright to perform tracks from her debut album 'Night Time, My Time' and covers of classics by 'Til Tuesday and Lionel Richie.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: AFP/Getty Images

This is an image2of18

Run The Jewels

Never short of positivity, Killer Mike and El-P spent their time on the main stage spreading the love for women, weed and the world.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: FilmMagic

This is an image3of18

Blood Orange

Blood Orange, aka Dev Hynes, brought his soulful R&B to the Shea Stage after sunset, dropping a couple of new songs into his set along the way. Look out for 'Charcoal Baby' in particular - a slinky earworm that suggests his next move will be well worth waiting for.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: AFP/Getty Images

This is an image4of18

Jay-Z

Where some of his rap counterparts go for flashy stage productions, the giant Jeff Koons-like inflatable dog was about as decadent as Jay-Z's stage show got as he headlined Friday night.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images

This is an image5of18

Jay-Z

Running through a career-spanning set, Jay-Z proved he's definitely still got it, relying on only his talent and swagger to put in one of the best performances of the entire festival.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image6of18

Public Access TV

Up bright and early on Saturday, New York's very own Public Access TV took a break from working on their second album to kick off day two with their gleaming rock'n'roll gems.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image7of18

Big Boi

Big Boi brought a smile to The Meadows crowd's faces with a setlist including 'Ms Jackson' and 'Shutterbug'. There was some tenderness between the joviality, though, when the Outkast rapper revealed his cousin had recently passed away and dedicated his performance to him.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image8of18

Erykah Badu

Neo-soul icon Erykah Badu put in one of the most mesmerising performances of the weekend, managing to keep a straight face even when her gigantic hat blew off her head in the wind.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image9of18

De La Soul

There was no happier group at the festival than De La Soul, who brought their hip-hop classics to the American Eagle stage on Saturday.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image10of18

Future and Nicki Minaj

The Meadows wasn't short of secret, special guests. Nicki Minaj was just one of many to make an unannounced appearance across the weekend, with the Queens native making a cameo during Future's main stage set.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image11of18

Gorillaz

Even more special guests made it to the stage during Gorillaz's headline appearance. Savages' Jehnny Beth, Pusha T and D.R.A.M. were among those to help bring songs from 'Humanz' to life.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image12of18

Mos Def

The biggest surprise, however, came during the encore when Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) casually wandered out to lend his voice to 'Stylo'.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image13of18

Broods

New Zealand synth-pop duo Broods shook the crowd awake on Sunday with a perky performance that included an impeccable rendition of the Lorde-penned 'Heartlines'.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image14of18

Foster The People

Foster The People used their set to spread a message of unity and love, with frontman Mark Foster telling the crowd: "I wouldn't change any one of you."

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: WireImage

This is an image15of18

Nas

Icon Nas treated the Queens crowd to a performance of key tracks from his seminal album 'Illmatic', including 'NY State Of Mind' and 'The World Is Yours'.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image16of18

Weezer

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image17of18

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Closing out the entire festival, Red Hot Chili Peppers dug deep into their arsenal and came out with some of their biggest and best tunes.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image18of18

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Alongside mega hits like 'Californication', 'Under The Bridge' and 'By The Way', the rock foursome also found time to cover The Stooges, Funkadelic and Stevie Wonder before sending the crowd off into the night.